But the Atlantic provinces and rural ridings are on the target list for the Conservatives who will win back seats from the Liberals in 2019, says five-term Conservative MP Tom Lukiwski

Liberal MP T.J. Harvey, centre, pictured with Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, right, and Liberal MP Will Amos, left. Mr. Harvey, chair of the Liberal rural caucus, says that rural ridings are a potential growth area for his party in 2019. The Hill Times file photograph

Rural ridings will offer potential growth areas for the federal Liberals in 2019 and the PMO and cabinet are paying close attention, says Liberal MP T.J. Harvey, chair of the Liberal rural caucus, but the Conservatives say they’re also targeting rural ridings and expect to win seats from the Grits in the next federal election.

Gerald Butts has removed himself from the daily political grind of strategizing how to keep the Liberals in power. But observers say it's unlikely he will be consigned to watch the campaign unfold from the sidelines.

SNC-Lavalin risks a takeover if it's convicted. But aside from likely outrage in Quebec, Ottawa can find other builders for its infrastructure plans if the company is banned from bidding on federal contracts, experts say

The Quebec company had extensive access to government ministers and top staffers, and was the only organization registered to lobby for allowing deferred prosecution agreements for white collar crimes.